If you have symptoms of knee osteoarthritis, your doctor will perform a physical exam and ask about your medical history. They'll be looking for indicators of osteoarthritis, such as:
They may also ask about other conditions—like rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes—that are risk factors for osteoarthritis. A definitive diagnosis may require tests, such as:
Treatment focuses on easing symptoms, such as managing bone-on-bone knee pain, maintaining range of motion, and treating osteoarthritis knee swelling.
In the early stages of knee osteoarthritis, conservative treatment for osteoarthritis of the knee is more common. Your doctor may recommend:
As your condition progresses and pain from osteoarthritis of the knee has a bigger impact on daily life, your doctor may recommend surgery, including:
Since there's no cure for knee osteoarthritis, managing your symptoms and slowing the disease's progression is crucial. Self-care and exercise are important parts of your knee osteoarthritis treatment plan.
It depends on your timing. For general stiffness and soreness, heat can relieve pain and help the joint loosen up and move better. However, heat can also increase inflammation, so cold is a better choice if your knee osteoarthritis is swollen from overuse.
Yes. Exercise is essential and can help build the muscles that support the knee. Low-impact exercises like cycling are especially beneficial since they're relatively gentle on the knee joint compared to running or jumping activities.
Like cycling, walking is an excellent choice because it's low-impact and promotes strong legs that can support the knee. Walking can also help with stiffness after sitting for a while.
It depends. Some high-impact exercises can worsen osteoarthritis. On the other hand, studies show that, in moderation, running can strengthen your legs and slow the progression of your condition. On the other hand, intense training like that of competitive athletes may worsen your condition. Take it easy and evaluate whether your symptoms are better or worse after a run. When in doubt, talk to your doctor about your exercise program.
Knee braces can help you manage your symptoms. There are several different types of braces that work differently, such as by compressing your muscles or stabilizing the knee. Talk to your doctor about what kind of brace is right for you based on your condition, medical history, and activities.
Lifestyle factors play a significant role in managing knee osteoarthritis pain and other symptoms. Good habits to adopt include:
Things to avoid include:
It can. When there's not enough cartilage to support healthy movement in the knee, the body may produce more fluid to compensate, which can cause knee osteoarthritis swelling. Treatment for this kind of swelling can include home remedies, injections, and physical therapy.
In the beginning stages, knee osteoarthritis pain is mild, and you may not even notice it. As the disease progresses, the pain will become more intense and more frequent. By Stage 4 knee osteoarthritis, it's common to feel it all (or almost all) the time. In the later stages, surgery may be the best option to relieve severe, frequent pain
If you don't treat knee osteoarthritis, it can quickly worsen. As your osteoarthritis becomes more severe, you'll experience more pain and more significant physical limitations. You'll also need surgical treatment sooner. In some cases, untreated osteoarthritis can lead to other conditions, such as bowlegs.
Lifestyle factors are your most powerful tool for combatting the progression of knee osteoarthritis. Getting enough exercise, eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and managing inflammation can all slow the progression of the disease, though you can't stop it completely.
Osteoarthritis is a specific kind of arthritis that is caused by the wearing away of cartilage on the ends of the bones. Other types of arthritis that can affect the knee include rheumatoid arthritis (your body's immune system attacks the joint), gout (mineral deposits build up in the knee), and reactive arthritis (a response to an infection).
There's no cure for osteoarthritis and no way to reverse osteoarthritis of the knee, but it isn't deadly and doesn't have life-threatening complications.
Staying active can help keep your knee in good shape and provide the protective benefits of exercise on longevity and mood.
Yes. A knee replacement can significantly improve your quality of life, ability to move freely, and independence, but it doesn't cure the underlying condition.
To schedule an appointment with one of our bone and joint specialists, call 617-732-5322, or fill out an appointment request form.
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